Interviews of me. Archives - Marilyn Holdsworth

Marilyn Holdsworth on the Importance of Villains in Fiction @m_holdsworth #AmReading #WomensFic. Interview.

What inspired you to write your first book?
I am very interested in saving the American mustangs and preventing animal abuse especially exploitation of horses. That’s why I wrote my first book,

How do you come up with titles for your books?
I choose titles that will interest my readers and are symbolic to the story. Making Wishes has several levels of meaning to the book.

Can you tell us about your main character?
My main character in Making Wishes is Elloree Randall, a young creative woman faced with making some life changing choices. She is torn between her love for her work and her devotion to her sons.

Describe what it’s like to be an author in three words.
Very hard work!

Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?
Yes. I would say that in Making Wishes my message is: A quest for self-discovery to find ones true values often comes at a high price.

How much of the book is realistic?
Although my characters are fictional they are realistic and the story is very believable.

How important do you think villains are?
Very. Conflict created by a clash of good and evil keeps a story moving. Readers engaged in the plot want to see justice done.

Can we expect to see any more books from you?
Yes. I am currently working on my fourth novel.

Have you started another book?
Yes. I am well into writing my fourth novel, The Portrait of Lady J.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
I like to take my dog for walks in the park. I also love to listen to classical music. And for me walking on the beach at sunrise or sunset is the ultimate relaxation.

Marilyn

Simons 10 Q Interviews was a Finalist in the U.K. Blogging Awards 2014. The Marilyn Holdsworth interview took place on 17 July 2014.
Marilyn Holdsworth is a writer, poet and blogger. Her passion for owning and training horses led her to write her most recent novel Pegasus and, based upon her genealogical research, Marilyn had another story to tell: that of being a direct descendent to the Fifth president of the United States of America, James Monroe.

Marilyn’s writing includes The Beautiful American largely based around her research into the life of James Monroe and the novel Making Wishes, which are all available globally.

Welcome Marilyn to Simon’s 10 Q Interviews…

SD Q1: I have a theory that authors make good cooks, perhaps as it’s a good mode of relaxation, perhaps due to the overwhelming longing to create…. In the past you published the book: Timeless recipes for fast track cooking. Whilst on Amazon it appears to be out of print, do you have any desire or plans to write more about cooking in the future and can you take us through your favourite recipe or culinary creation?

Fast, low budget and delicious meals

MH A1: I don’t plan to write more about cooking. I really wrote Timeless Recipes for my two sons when they were venturing out on their own. One of their favorite treats was my brown sugar bars. Here’s the recipe:

2/3 cup sifted flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder

1 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup margarine
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp vanilla

Brown Sugar Bars;

Sift dry ingredients together. Melt margarine in pan. Remove from heat and add sugar, egg and vanilla. Beat well. Add nuts and stir in dry ingredients. Spread in 8″ greased pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

SD Q2: You spent a large part of your career as a staff writer for a travel magazine, travelling the world and documenting those travels. What has been worst location you have travelled to whilst working, what made it so, how did you describe the location within your review and if you were forced to move away from the USA, where would you choose to live and why?

MH A2: Boca de Valaria on the Amazon in South America is a tiny village in Brazil and one of my least favorite places. I call it Boca de Malaria! Extreme heat, bugs and snakes – the shore boat couldn’t get in close enough so I had to scramble over the side and wade through knee high water and thick slimy mud to get there. Interesting but not the vacation spot of the world and not a place I would care to return to.
If I was to move away from the USA I would choose New Zealand. It is a beautiful, charming place filled with warm hearted, friendly people.

SD Q3: You are a staunch supporter of horse rescue and the preservation of The Wild Mustang. You have also been a horse owner and trainer. If you were given the opportunity to ride any 3 horses throughout history to the present day, which would you choose and why?

MH A3:
Horse 1: My first choice would be my own thoroughbred mare Robin.
Why? She was beautiful, gentle and well trained and always a glorious ride!

Horse 2: I would love to ride SeaBiscuit.
Why? He was fast as the wind with a big heart and willingness to please.

Horse 3: California Chrome would be my third choice for a truly memorable ride.
Why? He’s a beautiful horse with a remarkably gentle nature for a thoroughbred – a really splendid Cal Bred horse and a Kentucky Derby winner. Sure to be a thrilling ride!

Q4: You are a descendent of James Monroe, the fifth President of The United States, one of the five founding fathers whom, I believe, holds the unfortunate accolade (depending upon how you look at it!) to be the third founding father to die on Independence Day? I do not have a great knowledge of US history, so should pose the question; Was James Monroe assassinated or was the timing of his death a simple coincidence and as you have written a book, The Beautiful American which features James’ wife, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe. What gave you the idea to write such a novel and how much of that storyline is based upon facts.

MH A4: James Monroe died of natural causes one year after his beloved wife Elizabeth. Many believe he died of a broken heart.
I wrote The Beautiful American because I wanted to learn more about my ancestors and that period. The book is based on historical facts. I researched it carefully, traveled to the Monroe Museum and visited Monroe’s home in Virginia.

SD Q5: For my next question I am going to have to send you away to a desert island but fear not, due to your elevated status, I feel it is only apt that we should supply you with a “Man Friday” to assist you and cater to your every whim whilst you set about your daily life. So, my first question has to be, other than relatives, who would you request to fill the post of “Man Friday” and why, and secondly, what three personal items would you take with you to remind you of home and what memories make those items dear to you?

Man Friday? For my Man Friday I would choose Jeeves.
Why? He is the quintessential man servant!

Personal Item 1: My wedding ring.
Why? To remind me always of the true and only love of my life.

Personal Item 2: Pictures of my beloved family.
Why? So I can feel they are near.

Personal Item 3: My gold Pegasus necklace.
Why? Because it was a gift from my husband when I published my first novel, Pegasus. It is a loving reminder that all things are possible if you let your mind fly and try!

SD Q6: You have always been a writer and you were a student of literature at Occidental college. Who or what inspired you to take up writing as a profession in those early years and before graduation what were the three best books you had ever read and what made them so?

MH A6:
As a student I was very fortunate to have a professor, Dr. Holmes, who believed in my ability and encouraged my writing. The books I loved most during those early years were:

1) Gone with the Wind.
I loved Margaret Mitchell’s characters Scarlet O’Hara and Rhett Butler and that period in our country’s history.

2) My Cousin Rachel.
Daphne du Maurier’s descriptions are wonderfully vivid and her characters very skillfully developed.

3) The Great Gatsby.
F. Scott Fitzgerald captures the essence of the roaring twenties and brings his characters to life.

SD Q7: I can quite often roam the aisles of greeting card shops reading the quips on and within the multitude of cards in the hope of having a good chuckle. You have previously owned a greeting card company and therefore must have seen some clangers… Can you describe both the best and the worst quips you came across whilst operating that company?

MH A7:
The best greeting card quip: You’re one of the Beautiful People! Happy Birthday!
The worst greeting card quip: Like moonlight wrinkles become you! Happy Birthday!

SD Q8: I think, given your family history, that you will relish the next question which offers you the opportunity to make three journeys in my well travelled Time Machine. Past, present and/or future. To which three destinations would you travel, in what year and to what end?

MH A8:
Destination 1: Avalon Bay, Catalina Island, California
Year: 1950
Purpose: So I could sail over on the great white steamer and dance to the music of Glenn Miller and Elvis Presley in the Avalon Bay Casino Ballroom.

Destination 2: London England
Year: Today
Purpose: To stay at Thornbury castle and attend a Shakespeare play at Stratford Upon Avon.

Destination 3: Future: Los Angeles to San Francisco
Year: whenever the speed train is completed
Purpose: To ride the high speed rail train to San Francisco and take a side trip to Napa Valley.

SD Q9: You are currently working on your next novel: The Portrait of Lady J. Without offering up any spoilers, what has inspired this latest book, what is the subject matter, why will it appeal to your readers and when can they expect to see it on sale?

MH A9: I was inspired to write my book, The Portrait of Lady J because of my love for art and history. The novel will appeal to readers because it is an engaging story with mystery, history and romance. I hope to have it on sale by the end of this year or early next year.

SD Q10: Marilyn before I get to the last question I would just like to thank you for your time and wish you the best for the rest of 2014 and beyond both with your next book and your noble cause of supporting the preservation of The Wild Mustang. My final question is that if we were to swap roles and you were to take on the position of being the interviewer on Simon’s 10Q Interviews, who would be your first interviewee, why, and what would be your opening question?

MH A10: My first interviewee would be Barbara Taylor Bradford. My opening question would be: Did you see yourself in your book, A Woman of Substance?

SD Comment: Many thanks Marilyn and best of luck for the rest of 2014 and beyond. I’m going to make a hasty exit now as I have been wondering since answer 1, whether or not I have the correct ingredients to make that chocolate! Thank you for the recipe and your fascinating answers.

If you would like to know more about Marilyn’s work, please visit her website at http://marilynholdsworth.com/ or visit Marilyn’s author page on Amazon as follows;

For U.S. Readers – Marilyn Holdsworth
For U.K. Readers – Marilyn Holdsworth

Simon Duringer is both a Goodreads author and Independent Interviewer. If you have enjoyed reading this interview, why not download a copy of The Word: The Best of Simon’s 10Q Interviews, featuring 28 equally interesting and exciting interviews, available on Kindle, Prime (#Free) and Paperback. Links to Simon’s Amazon Author Page are as follows;
UK Link – Simon Duringer Author Page

US Link – Simon Duringer Author Page

Simons 10 Q Interviews was a Finalist in the U.K. Blogging Awards 2014.